"Life is not a race - but indeed a journey. Be Honest. Work hard. Be choosy. Say "thank you", "I love you", and "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental - search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you aspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them. Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself - plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment." ~Bonnie L. Mohr

A FB friend posted this as her status. I really needed the reminder today. This morning started as one of those... you know the type; As soon as your eyes see daylight (or before) that today would challenge you. Nothing extraordinary - but the little things pick away just enough to make you glum. Brayden woke up especially cranky and devastated by my "No" response to his request for a cookie. We do this every morning... and every morning I tell him the same thing "we don't have cookies for breakfast." The question makes me smile, but his tantrum does not. I ignored the screaming while I was in the shower, and he eventually stopped. He wanted cereal for breakfast but cried when I poured milk over it. He didn't want to change is shirt or have his face wiped or his hair combed. Nothing about this morning was going right for either of us. But, I read the quote right after I dropped B off - It was there waiting for me this morning to read, not by accident I am sure.

It's interesting the sentences that stand out. Each person that reads it will take away something that another person did not. The weight of the importance is varied on where you are, not physically but emotionally and mentally. For me, the heavy parts are:

"Be Honest. Work hard. Be choosy."

I am working my butt off, but I am staying true to me - even more so, in working so hard I am learning more about myself than I ever knew. And I am learning to be choosy - in many aspects.

"Go to church, take time for prayer."

I love that I am reconnecting with God, and church - So does my Mom! I am learning a lot too. Every Sunday I walk out the doors intrigued and more appreciative of the growth I am experiencing. I am teaching Brayden how to pray - we are starting simple. "God loves you."

'Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental - search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you aspire to be.'

It is Not Accidental :) Everything that has happened has lead me here - and here is exactly where I am supposed to be.

"Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming."

I am a HUGE ball of worry... non stop and about eveything... I think I am aging myself quickly. I need to work on how to let it go. I smile when I hear the song from the Zac Brown Band "be a fool, not a worry..." I make a mental note each time.

"Forgive, it frees the soul."

Forgive. That is really hard. I have let people and their actions bother me for far too long. I am working on letting it go - and letting them go too. I pray for them and for the strength to move on. I know I will feel better when I do. I actually say it out loud. I look in the mirror and take a deep breath, releasing the anger. They are missing out by not being in my life. I pray that they go where God has intended them too - and that they will see clarity someday. And if not, it isn't my weight to carry.

Everyday we have the opportunity to make a conscious decision; to make today the best day. Make today (and everyday) yours!

Comment

Intense title, right? I went to church on Sunday. Something that doesn't happen as often as it should. I have moved (again) so with that comes a new church.

I was raised Catholic - Church and Sunday school every weekend, religiously (pun intended). Church and Sunday school wasn't something that I loved - it was just something that you did. My parents do it every weekend - they never miss, even when they are on vacation or trying to make it to my brother's basketball game. They find the closest church and they go. To be honest, I don't know that they have ever missed.

As I got older and busier, church became secondary - It quickly moved down the list in priority. I am ashamed to say, sleeping-in took precedent. However, I am finding my way back. Faith and Religion is a deep topic. With my growing up my skepticism about 'religion' grew, but my faith never faltered. I always have God - in the good and the bad - he is always there, and I know that. With that frame of mind, I also didn't see why it was necessary to go through the traditions that organized religions have. God is everywhere I go, why do I need to go to church? But, with the never ending shifts that parenthood brings, also does enlightenment about faith, religion, and God. In general life, I do what my parents did. They went to church. We did all of the necessary milestones through the Catholic faith. And, I see that as important. I want Brayden to do that. I want him to have the instilment of faith and God.

Through my own growth, my viewpoint (and I do mean mine, agree or not - it is my opinion) church is important. It is faith based school and education. Church is there to be the reinforcing reminder of living the best life. I just learned that yesterday. 29 years of church and I had that epiphany yesterday. I think I knew, but something clicked on Sunday. The Priest spoke really beautifully. He spoke of a journey and referred to the reading in the Bible. The journey to Jesus and the journey Jesus puts us on. That stood out to me. He said,"...the hardest journey we will ever have to make is the distance between our mind and heart." He said "how often do we say to ourselves, I should drink less. I should stop smoking. I should be more patient. I should stop yelling at my kids so much. I should donate more money or time. I should speak softer. I should smile more. All of the things that our heart says we should do - but our mind leads us in a different direction." Was he speaking just to me? It felt like it. Ultimately, the sermon was about the journey to Jesus, and God. Act on what you know is right. Live justly. Act with Love. Know God.

This may be a new Monday topic - my journey back to church. I still believe that God is everywhere I am - and religion, attending church is a matter of preference. To me, I need to be more disciplined about going to church so I can be reconnected with God. I need to hear the stories in the bible. I need to learn from their message and apply it to my life. I need Brayden to develop that connection with God. I talk about Him with Brayden. I have been making the effort because I knew we would be making this journey together and he needs a foundation. I say "Who loves you?" As rehearsed he replies, "Mama and Dadda." Then I say, "Who else?" And from there we name all 70 members of both sides of the family. Then I say "and God loves you." So, that is part of the 70 names. I also talk about God's house (church). He will go soon. I need to get reacquainted first. Let the journey begin.